title: Prevalence and clinical correlates of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older people: application of the EWGSOP definition and diagnostic algorithm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle impairment is a common condition in older people and a powerful risk factor for disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to apply the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria to estimate the prevalence and investigate the clinical correlates of sarcopenia, in a sample of Italian community-dwelling older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of 730 participants (74% aged 65 years and older) enrolled in the InCHIANTI study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria using bioimpedance analysis for muscle mass assessment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors independently associated with sarcopenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sarcopenia defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria increased steeply with age (p < .001), with 31.6% of women and 17.4% of men aged 80 years or older being affected by this condition. Higher education (odds ratio: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.98), lower insulin-like growth factor I (lowest vs highest tertile, odds ratio: 3.89; 95% CI: 1.03-14.1), and low bioavailable testosterone (odds ratio: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.31-5.44) were independently associated with the likelihood of being sarcopenic. Nutritional intake, physical activity, and level of comorbidity were not associated with sarcopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sarcopenia identified by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria is a relatively common condition in Italian octogenarians, and its prevalence increases with aging. Correlates of sarcopenia identified in this study might suggest new approaches for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, Via Savonarola, 9, Ferrara I-44100, Italy. vlt@unife.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ceda
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuliani
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Community-dwelling older people; Frail elderly.; Sarcopenia